In Dead Man's Walk, Gus and Call are not yet 20, young men coming of age in the days when Texas was still an independent republic. Enlisting as Texas Rangers under a land pirate who wants to seize Santa Fe from the Mexicans, Gus and Call experience their first great adventure in the barren great plains landscape, in which arbitrary violence is the rule -- whether from nature, or from the Indians whose territory they must cross in order to reach New Mexico.<

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Publisher's Summary

In Streets of Laredo, McMurtry brought the story ahead, giving us Call in his old age. Now, in Dead Man's Walk, he takes us back to the days when Gus and Call were young Texas Rangers, first experiencing the wild frontier that will form their characters. We also meet Clara Forsythe, the unforgettable young woman whose effect on Gus McCrae is immediate and unshakable. Danger, sacrifice, comradeship, and love give them the strength and courage to survive against the almost insurmountable odds of the frontier.

In Dead Man's Walk, Gus and Call are not yet 20, young men coming of age in the days when Texas was still an independent republic. Enlisting as Texas Rangers under a land pirate who wants to seize Santa Fe from the Mexicans, Gus and Call experience their first great adventure in the barren great plains landscape, in which arbitrary violence is the rule -- whether from nature, or from the Indians whose territory they must cross in order to reach New Mexico.

From the Indians defending their land with unrelenting savagery, to the Texans attempting to seize and "civilize" it, and the Mexicans threatened by both, the reckless men of the untamed frontier make this at once a riveting adventure story and a powerful work of literature.

I've always loved the lonesome dove books and this one is a great addition as a prequel. the narration brings Gus and Call to life as teenage rangers. the book highlights some early history between the two, the introduction of Clara, and the long standing beef between the boys and the Comanche's. I found it was easy to get through and finished it in a few short days

Hearing the back story of Gus, and Woodrow was a great pleasure. If you think the Indians were crazy and dangerous in lonesome dove wait till you meet Buffalo Hump! The reader is great, and it made the miles and miles I Drive everyday much more pleasurable!

I live in New Mexico and traveled thru Texas a good bit so hearing this historical and descriptive narration of the land I love was so neat. Excellent storyteller with a great ability to change his voice depending on the character he was narrating.

First audible experience. Made the car ride seem short as characters came to life. The voices were consistent and well portrayed the great expedition. Learning how the Hat Creek outfit got started is an exciting adventure. Look forward to the next book in the series.

Two western voices together highlight this stubborn, however interesting plot line. I do love McMurtry's writing voice, and Will Patton [drawls] us right in to this dusty and realistic nightmare. This is where Call and Gus got tough.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting part is... the deadman's walk; chilling with the amazing surviving spirit of mankind... and how tough Texas was to settle.

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